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Even in the darkest of times
it was possible to find some
lighter moments.
it was possible to find some
lighter moments.
The cello.
When they could laugh the pain was a
little easier to bear.
little easier to bear.
It is also true that in times of despair, sadness, fear and uncertainty, man
will seek to lighten those times with laughter. So it was with the prisoners
of war captured after the Battle of Hong Kong. A group of officers and
men got together to entertain their fellow prisoners with concerts, skits,
and plays, thereby injecting a little light into the squalid world in which they
lived for 44 long months. It did much to bolster morale and to literally
keep the men's spirits alive. A good example is the cello. It was
constructed from old oil cans, bits of wood, and other odds and ends, for
my father by RR of C Cpl. Stewart Hendersen, Rfm. Wilbur Lester and
another soldier by the name of Ampi. How my Dad loved that cello, or
viola as Cpl. Henderson called it.
will seek to lighten those times with laughter. So it was with the prisoners
of war captured after the Battle of Hong Kong. A group of officers and
men got together to entertain their fellow prisoners with concerts, skits,
and plays, thereby injecting a little light into the squalid world in which they
lived for 44 long months. It did much to bolster morale and to literally
keep the men's spirits alive. A good example is the cello. It was
constructed from old oil cans, bits of wood, and other odds and ends, for
my father by RR of C Cpl. Stewart Hendersen, Rfm. Wilbur Lester and
another soldier by the name of Ampi. How my Dad loved that cello, or
viola as Cpl. Henderson called it.
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A Particularly Nasty
Guy,Katyama "affectionately"
known as Deadly Nightshade.
Guy,Katyama "affectionately"
known as Deadly Nightshade.
Keeping busy was important
to morale. The prisoners did
many things to keep their
minds active.
to morale. The prisoners did
many things to keep their
minds active.
This lamp was constructed for my Dad
by someone whose name I don't know. It
is a tobacco barrel with the badges of
many of the units who fought in the Battle
of Hong Kong. Note the bullet which, I
believe, is Japanese. Unfortunately some
of the badges have gone missing over the
years.
by someone whose name I don't know. It
is a tobacco barrel with the badges of
many of the units who fought in the Battle
of Hong Kong. Note the bullet which, I
believe, is Japanese. Unfortunately some
of the badges have gone missing over the
years.
The Japanese locked up their body but they couldn't lock up the
prisoners' mind. Keeping the mind working and boredom at bay was a
daily challenge. Though their bodies were frail, due to disease and
malnutrition, they kept their mind active in many ways. Chess and bridge
tournaments were organized, volunteers gave lectures on a variety of
topics that they were familiar with and language courses were given.
One activity gave the prisoners a great deal of pleasure. Instruments
donated by the Canadian YMCA had been allowed into the camp and an
orchestra was quickly formed and gave frequent concerts The cello was
built especially for my Dad so he could help entertain. A number of the
prisoners, my Dad included, were hams at heart and enjoyed creating and
staging plays and skits that brought the medicine of laughter into the camp.
Each concert included an appearance by the "girls" dressed to the nines in
fetching outfits that made the crowd give out a chorus of wolf whistles.
Sonny Castro, a gentleman of Portuguese ancestry, was a particular hit.
Sonny was a member of the HKVDC. He should have insured his legs for
several cartons of cigarettes, worth more than money in the camp.
Dad's interest in performing went back to when he was a teenager. He
and his brothers and sister formed a performing group called "The Parker
Concert Company of Sherbrooke, Quebec". My uncle Gault played
piano, uncle Fenwick the violin and a Harry Lauder impersonation, and
Dad played the cello. My aunt Marion assisted. My thanks to my cousin
Gerald Parker for this information.
prisoners' mind. Keeping the mind working and boredom at bay was a
daily challenge. Though their bodies were frail, due to disease and
malnutrition, they kept their mind active in many ways. Chess and bridge
tournaments were organized, volunteers gave lectures on a variety of
topics that they were familiar with and language courses were given.
One activity gave the prisoners a great deal of pleasure. Instruments
donated by the Canadian YMCA had been allowed into the camp and an
orchestra was quickly formed and gave frequent concerts The cello was
built especially for my Dad so he could help entertain. A number of the
prisoners, my Dad included, were hams at heart and enjoyed creating and
staging plays and skits that brought the medicine of laughter into the camp.
Each concert included an appearance by the "girls" dressed to the nines in
fetching outfits that made the crowd give out a chorus of wolf whistles.
Sonny Castro, a gentleman of Portuguese ancestry, was a particular hit.
Sonny was a member of the HKVDC. He should have insured his legs for
several cartons of cigarettes, worth more than money in the camp.
Dad's interest in performing went back to when he was a teenager. He
and his brothers and sister formed a performing group called "The Parker
Concert Company of Sherbrooke, Quebec". My uncle Gault played
piano, uncle Fenwick the violin and a Harry Lauder impersonation, and
Dad played the cello. My aunt Marion assisted. My thanks to my cousin
Gerald Parker for this information.
Pencil sketches of Japanese guards going about
their daily lives done by one of the prisoners.
their daily lives done by one of the prisoners.
